You recently sent your computer to be repaired at a shop. However, you are not satisfied with the repair. Write a letter to the manager of the shop. In your letter: - Describe why your computer needed to be repaired - Explain why you are not happy with the service - Say what you would like the shop manager to do
Sample Response
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing this epistle to the shop manager to express my resentment over the problem of bad services in your company.
Let me inform you that a few days ago, I purchased my computer from your shop but unfortunately it was not working at all. I bought this at the time of Diwali, and it turned out to be effective, and it seemed to be working fine for some days after that; it was automatically started and switched off. I got apprehensive why this was creating a problem in between. Sometimes, my entire efforts went to vain to open this.
Having a lot of trouble with this computer, I wanted to repair my computer from your shop. Regrettably, since that day, there has been no proper response to the countless calls I have received. Another day, I talked with a person, but he refused to reimburse me. So, writing this letter to let you know about the entire process, and I would be very obliged if you look into this matter; otherwise, try to initiate an entire refund.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use standard salutation Original: Respected Sir/Madam, Suggested revision: Dear Sir or Madam, Why it matters: This is the conventional formal salutation when the manager’s name is unknown.
- 2. Use natural wording Original: epistle Suggested revision: letter Why it matters: Epistle is unnecessarily literary for a customer complaint.
- 3. Address recipient directly Original: to the shop manager Suggested revision: to you Why it matters: The writer should address the manager directly rather than refer to the recipient in the third person.
- 4. Refine complaint tone Original: resentment over Suggested revision: dissatisfaction with Why it matters: This phrase expresses a formal complaint more appropriately and precisely.
- 5. Correct service collocation Original: bad services Suggested revision: poor service Why it matters: Service is normally uncountable when referring generally to a shop’s customer service.
- 6. Name the right place Original: in your company Suggested revision: at your shop Why it matters: The task concerns service at a repair shop, so this wording is more precise.
- 7. Add clause comma Original: shop but unfortunately Suggested revision: shop, but unfortunately Why it matters: A comma should separate the two independent clauses joined by but.
- 8. Fix clause structure Original: I got apprehensive why Suggested revision: I became concerned because Why it matters: Because correctly introduces the reason for the writer’s concern.
- 9. Describe fault precisely Original: creating a problem in between Suggested revision: malfunctioning intermittently Why it matters: This concise phrase clearly expresses that the fault occurred at intervals.
- 10. Correct determiner agreement Original: my entire efforts Suggested revision: all my efforts Why it matters: The plural noun efforts requires all rather than entire in this construction.
- 11. Fix set phrase Original: went to vain Suggested revision: were in vain Why it matters: Were in vain is the correct fixed expression.
- 12. Use precise computer verb Original: to open this Suggested revision: to turn it on Why it matters: Turn it on accurately describes attempting to start a computer.
Suggested Rewrites
- Respected Sir/Madam, Dear Sir or Madam,
- epistle letter
- to the shop manager to you
- resentment over dissatisfaction with
- bad services poor service
- in your company at your shop
Why this response received Band 5.5
The complaint has a recognisable formal purpose, identifies the computer malfunction, and ends with a clear request for action. However, the account partly shifts from a failed repair to the original purchase and does not clearly explain what the shop repaired or why that repair was unsatisfactory; frequent awkward wording further blurs the sequence. Clarify the repair history and service failure first, then use direct, natural language throughout.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The malfunction and desired refund are mentioned, but the response only partially explains dissatisfaction with the completed repair service.
State when the computer was sent for repair, what the shop did, what fault remained, and the exact remedy required.
Coherence and Cohesion
The letter has a basic complaint structure, but unclear chronology and loosely connected details make the account difficult to follow at points.
Organise the body chronologically into the original fault, the repair experience, and the requested resolution.
Lexical Resource
The response attempts a reasonable range, but frequent inaccurate or overly formal choices such as epistle, effective, and efforts went to vain impair precision.
Use direct complaint vocabulary and learn common collocations such as went in vain, poor service, and issue a full refund.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Both simple and complex forms are attempted, but frequent errors in clause construction, verb forms, pronoun reference, and sentence completeness weaken accuracy.
Write shorter complete sentences and check who performs each action before combining ideas with subordinate clauses.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You recently sent your computer to be repaired at a shop. However, you are not satisfied with the repair. Write a letter to the manager of the shop. In your letter:
- Describe why your computer needed to be repaired
- Explain why you are not happy with the service
- Say what you would like the shop manager to do
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.